Category: Projects

Multifunctional Nanostructures for Theranostics Student: Francisco Reynoso Department: Physics Advisor: Sri Sridhar Abstract The role nanotechnology plays in medicine is increasingly important due in large part to the numerous medical uses of nanostructures in both diagnostic and therapeutic capacities. The small size, relatively large surface area, and in-vivo kinetics of nanoparticles makes them uniquely suited…

Modified silica nanoparticle tracking and imaging via intravital microscopy for Leishmaniasis treatment Student: Angela Tanner Department: Chemistry Advisor: Michael Pollastri Abstract In an effort to develop more efficient and cost effective treatment for leishmaniasis, a lethal disease that affects millions, medicinal chemistry can be combined with nanoparticle technology to potentially reduce the dosage of existing…

Microfluidic Cell Separation Using Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Student: Brian Plouffe Department: Chemical Engineering Advisor: Shashi Murthy Abstract Metastases are a significant problem in cancer research, since metastasis from the primary tumor to distant organs causes 90% of cancer-related deaths, i.e. half-a-million people in the US. Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in whole blood demonstrates…

Lymph node targeting using nanoparticle delivery system for HIV vaccine Student: Robert Abbott Department: Biology Advisor: Michail Sitkovsky…

Lymph node nanoparticle delivery of A2aR antagonists to boost vaccine responses Student: Robert Abbott Department: Biology Advisor: Michail Sitkovsky…

Liposomal Loading and Delivery of Proapoptotic BH3 Peptides Student: Bobby Riehle Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences Advisor: Vladimir Torchilin Abstract This project aims to incorporate small peptides into liposomes with the purpose of increasing cellular delivery. These small peptides have been engineered to bind to BH3 domains on a variety of pro-apoptotic proteins (BID, BIM, BAD). These…

Investigating quantum dot toxicity by quantifying DNA polymerase activity with single molecule force spectroscopy Student: Kathy Chaurasiya Department: Physics Advisor: Mark Williams Abstract Quantum dots (QDs) have widespread, revolutionary applications in medicine, but the toxicity of these nanoparticles is multifaceted and not well understood. Cytotoxicity due to QD interference in vital cellular processes will be…

Intranasal Delivery of GDNF-expressing Nanoparticles to the Brain: Toward a Gene Therapy Approach for Parkinsons Disease Student: Brendan Harmon Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences Advisor: Barbara Waszczak Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily destroys the A9 tract of dopamine neurons that project from the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) to the corpus…

Intranasal Delivery of GDNF for the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Student: Mattia Migliore Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences Advisor: Barbara Waszczak Abstract Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) exerts a neuroprotective and a neuroregenerative effect on midbrain dopamine neurons and has been promoted as possible treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, GDNF does not cross the blood-brain…

Internship in Macau/Hong Kong, China Student: Paula Lampton Department: Biology Advisor: Carol Warner Abstract During my 4 month IGERT internship, I spent time at the University of Macau (Macau, SAR China) and at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong, SAR China). As part of this international and interdisciplinary collaborative internship, we evaluated the ability of…